American Attack on Caracas Stokes Anxieties of Potential Danish Territory Acquisition.

The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash

Only hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."

This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.

"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."

The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."

Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a notable media appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power rivalry in the polar region. "I don't rule it out. I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything... We need Greenland very badly," he stated.

He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition

In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."

Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?

Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy director focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.